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Prince of the Lillies

The “Prince of the Lilies” fresco is considered to be one of the most important fresco from Knossos, dated on the Late Bronze Age, about 1550 BC. The fresco was found in fragments and thoroughly restored. It consists of a lively and colorful composition. The fresco depicts a figure of a young man rendered in low relief. He walks towards the left against a red background and wears a loin-cloth with wide belt, a necklace and an elaborate head-dress decorated with lilies and peacock feathers. His stance appears to indicate that he was pulling an animal or imaginary creature (sphinx or griffin) with his left hand. The figure was named « prince », because it was thought to represent the Priest-King who lived in the Knossos palace. Despite its poor state of preservation - only parts of the torso, arms, legs and elaborate head-dress are preserved - the artist’s effort to render the muscles and details of the garment is evident.